I am, Sir, with the greatest respect and esteem, &c.
The business of the department in which Congress have been pleased to place me, rendering it necessary to have recourse to the Secret Journals, and other books and papers in the possession of their Secretary, I take the liberty to request them by their order, to enable Mr Thomson to admit me to examine, and copy from such books of a secret nature in his possession, as may in anywise relate to the department of Foreign Affairs.
Congress some time since, called upon the different States to make returns of the damage done by the enemy within each of them, by the wanton destruction of property, and no measures, that I can learn, have as yet been taken to ascertain such damage, though as your Excellency will easily conceive, it may become an important object of inquiry, whenever a treaty shall be set on foot for a general pacification, or be made to answer valuable purposes during the war, by showing our enemies in their true light to the nations of Europe.
In this view, I think it my duty to endeavor to collect them, and you will, Sir, I am persuaded, take the necessary measures to send as soon as possible, returns from the State over which you preside. I could wish to have the damages, (particularly that to real property,) ascertained by the affidavits of people of known characters, and duplicate copies of such affidavits transmitted to my officers, under the great seal of your State, and, if possible, accompanied with a short recital of each transaction, so that it may at once appear, whether the injuries were such as the laws of war justified, or whether they originated only in the malice and cruelty of the enemy.
Your Excellency will oblige me, and serve the public, by transmitting to me accounts of every occurrence, in which the United States are materially interested, which may arise within your government, or which you may derive from your correspondents abroad.
I have the honor to be, with great respect and esteem, &c.
The subject mentioned in the letters of Mr Adams, and their enclosures, requiring their express direction, I humbly submit to the consideration of Congress.
In Dr Franklin's letter of the 6th of August to Mr Adams, he informs him, "that he cannot depend on receiving any more money in France applicable to the support of the Ministers of Congress, and that what aids are thereafter granted, will probably be transmitted by the government directly to America." Congress need no arguments to convince them of the disgrace and danger of permitting their most confidential servants to be necessitous in a foreign country.